Opening Sequence
In the Directors commentary on the Elizabeth DVD Shekhar Kapur says that the opening sequence of 3 protestants being burnt at the stake is "done with real people in there" and "everybody asked if there were any special effects" ..."There were none".

I thought the filmed sequence was very effective and tried to find out how that shot was done.

"There was some smoke added initially, but as the fire built it was real and the people inside the fire were in covered in fireproof suits .. All the camera wires caught fire though as it was on the top of the flames .."